Defensive Coordinator Stephen Meyers has been named head football coach at Belle Chasse.

Meyers’ selection by Principal Jemi Carlone became official Wednesday afternoon, Carlone said Thursday.

Meyers, a 1988 Belle Chasse graduate, replaces Clint Harrison, who resigned as Cardinals coach on April 30 to pursue other coaching opportunities.

Meyers, 44, has served as Belle Chasse’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons following 16 distinguished years as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Higgins.

Meyers brings 25 years of coaching experience to his first head coaching assignment. He has served as a defensive coordinator for 19 of those years, including one year in his first coordinator position at Franklinton.

“When you look at the obvious success he had at Higgins in 20-plus years there and then add in his experience, with his love of his hometown community, Stephen was an obvious choice,’’ Carlone said.

Meyers served as Belle Chasse defensive coordinator the past two seasons during which time the Cardinals compiled a record of 11-10 with one state playoff appearance.

Belle Chasse went 8-4 this past season under Harrison and advanced to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs as a No. 12 seed and District 9-4A wild card. The Cardinals defeated No. 21 Lakeshore, 55-49, in bi-district before falling to No. 5 Easton, 55-49, in overtime in the regional round.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected as head coach at Belle Chasse High School,’’ Meyers said. “I want to represent the community of Belle Chasse and the residents of Plaquemines Parish with dignity, class and respect. We want to run a program that is respected.’’

Meyers was among three finalists interviewed for the position from a list of approximately 30 applicants, Carlone said. Most of the applicants were from outside the New Orleans Metro area, Carlone said.

Carlone declined to identify any finalists or applicants.

“We were in a time crunch,’’ Carlone said. “We knew the process had to go quickly. We did not name a head coach for the spring, so I asked the assistant coaches to step up on an interim basis.

“Stephen did so with the defense and Josh Heuper handled the offense. We played well against Riverdale. I went to the spring game.’’

Meyers was an integral part of his brother Wayne Meyers’ coaching staff at Higgins where the Hurricanes compiled a record of 107-62 in the 16 seasons Stephen served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Higgins won five district championships and advanced to the state playoffs 11 times in Wayne Meyers’ final 14 seasons as coach. The Hurricanes twice advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals in 2003 and 2008 and made seven regional playoff appearances in addition to compiling 11 winning seasons.

An added bonus, Carlone said, was the robust support Meyers received from Belle Chasse players.

“His success was an obvious factor,’’ Carlone said. “But a lot (in this decision) involved our players. A lot of them came to me and said they wanted Coach Meyers. To me that spoke volumes.

“I couldn’t go to the grocery without someone stopping me and talking to me about the football situation. I felt like I had to get someone who was liked in the community. I did not have one person say anything bad about Stephen.’’

Regarding Harrison’s departure, Carlone said, “Although I cannot talk about the details, I do wish him all the best in his future endeavors.’’

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Mike Strom can be reached at Mstrom@nola.comor 504.826.3405. Follow him at twitter.com/TheMikeStrom.